Ironing machine cabinet



Feb. 4, 1936.

H. W. ALTQRFER IRONING MACHINE CABINET Filed 001;. 15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENTDEI- ATT Y'E.

.Feb. 4, 1936. v H, w ALTQRFKER 2,029,283

IRONING MACHINE CABINET Filed Oct. 15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W/l/II/g/ luv-ENTER.

Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED. sTATEs PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to ironing machine cabinets, more especially to a cabinet structure adapted to support and house an ironing machine in such a manner as to sturdily support it in a position for convenient practical'use or to afford an enclosure for the same when not in use, the

machine, when not in use, being hidden away in the structure to the end that the cabinet will then have the appearance of a table or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a cabinet unit having acompartment adapted to receive an ironing machine, the same being provided with means whereby the machine may be withdrawn from the compartment and supported in a convenient position for use.

Another object is to provide a cabinet having a movable base member to which an ironing machine may be attached, the base member being provided with a novel mechanism by means of which the ironing machine is manually controlled.

A further object is to provide a cabinet having a movable table top member adapted to be raised while the ironing machine is being moved into or out of the compartment and at other times to have the utility of a table.

Another object lies in the provision of an ironing machine cabinet having a member adapted to be moved into vertical or horizontal position to form, when in vertical position, a side or panel member for the cabinet, and when in horizontal position a supporting shelf for the ironing machine.

An additional object is to provide a mechanism connected with said side panel member whereby when an ironing machine is placedwithin the cabinet and the member is placed in vertical or closed position the machine is lowered into invisible position and further it is an object to provide that when the side member is moved to horizontal position the machine is elevated in a manner adapting it to be easily removed from the cabinet and placed upon the horizontal side member ready for practical use.

Other objects will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my cabinet with an ironing machine attached in position for use;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view showing details of a mechanism to be described;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view taken from line 3--3 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view showing certain parts in section and certain interior parts in full line'as the left hand end of t he device would appear if viewed from the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing several parts in operated position, as will be explained;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the ironing machine base member showing dotted outline of an associated ironing machine and control mechanism; Fig. 7 is a sectional side view of the ironing machine base' showing details of an attached control mechanism which will be explained;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing certain 10 of the control mechanism parts'in operated position; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmental sectionated perspective view showing details of the control mechanism to be described.

Fig. 1 discloses my invention as generally comprising a cabinet or compartment Ill supported upon legs I I and provided with a movable top l2.

Three sides of the cabinet comprise built in panels such as I 3, while a fourth panel, I4, is

made movable as will be explained.

Fig. -1 also shows an ironing machine supported upon the panel l4 in position for use.

Since the ironing machine to be used in connection with my cabinet may be of special or con- 5 ventional design, it will not be described in detail further than to say that the housing l5 incloses a driving and control mechanism with which a mechanism to be described herein is connected.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the table top l2 normally rests upon the cabinet in such a manner as to form a top cover for the compartment while Fig. 5 indicates the manner in which the top l2 may be slid backwardly and tilted to uncover the compartment.

Attachment of the table top to the cabinet, to facilitate the described movement, is accomplished by the following means:

Framing members l6 disposed at either end of the structure are provided with longitudinal slots I! disposed upon their inner sides. The top I! is fitted at either end with downwardly extending end portions l8 disposed adjacent the inner side of the members l6 as best shown in Fig. 3.

Trunnion pins l9 secured in members l8 slidably fit in the grooves I! in such a manner that the top may be slid forwardly or backwardly or moved pivotally, when in backward position, as indicated in Fig. 5.

As already mentioned, the panel I4 is made movable and this is accomplished in the following manner:

Fig. 2 illustrates that panels H! are provided at either end with angulated fixtures 20 having a portion 2! extending approximately at right angles with the main portion. Suitably disposed pins 22 act as pivots upon which the panel may be rotated to assume an upright position as in Fig. 4, in. which position it forms a closure for the cabinet, giving the same a symmetrical external appearance, or to a horizontal position as in Fig. 5, in which position it is utilized as a shelf to support the ironing machine in working position.

Interior of the cabinet is a swinging shelf member 23 best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This shelf is supported by means of parallel arms 24 pivotally attached at either end of the shelf and pivotally supported at 25 upon reinforcing strips 26 secured to the inner sides of members l6.

Due to the parallel relation of arms 24, the shelf 23 is adapted to be moved in horizontal relation from the lowered position shown in Fig. 4 to the elevated position shown in Fig. 5. Coil springs 21 anchored in strips 26 urge it toward the latter position.

Shelf 23 is provided at either end with upstanding portions 28 and tothe upper portion of these are pivotally attached link members 29 which latter are pivotally attached at their lower ends to the portions 2| of fixtures 20. With the foregoing in mind, it will be apparent that manual operation of the panel M from the upright position ofFig. 4 to the horizontal position of Fig. 5 will bring about movement through themedium of links 29, of shelf 23 from lowered to elevated position as shown.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be noted that the portions 2| are provided with inwardly extending lugs 30 so disposed as to engage the rearward side of links 29 when shelf M is in horizontal position and to support it thereat in a substantial manner.

As a part of the invention, I provide a suitably proportioned base member 3| adapted to support an ironing machine mechanism as already noted.

The base is adapted to be slid forwardly to rest upon shelf M to place the' ironing machine in position for use as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, or to be placed upon shelf 23 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 5, whereupon shelf |4 may be moved to closed position to lower shelf 23 and the ironing machine backwardly and downwardly to the compact position shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, it will be noted that base 3| carries upon its under side a control mechanism comprising a lever member 32 pivotally supported at 33 and having a pad 34 attached to its lower end. Disposed near the pivot 33 is a pivot 35 to which is attached a link 36 pivotally attached at its opposite end to a link member 31. Link 31 is slidably supported upon the base by means of guide brackets 38 and has a connecting rod member 39 attached at 40.

The rod 39 extends towards the end of base 3| and is movably retained in a downwardly extending arm portion 4| of a shaft 42. Portion 4| extends through an opening 43 in base 3 and shaft 42 is rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the base by means of brackets 44 and 45.

An' arm member 46 is secured to shaft 42 intermediate the brackets, as shown best in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 illustrates that portion 4| is provided with a spring 41 anchored at 48 to base 3|. The spring obviously operates to urge portion 4| to the position shown in the several views.

' A rearwardly extending portion 49 of arm 46 contacts the base to limit movement of the arm as produced by spring 41 whereby the arm is .base 3 the same being so disposed as to receive the pad 34 when arm -3 2. ismoved to the position shown in Fig. 8. The-relative size of the pad is such that it occupies opening 5| in frictional relation, whereby the arm 32 and pad, once Placed in the position noted, is retained until forced away. Any other retaining means may be used to accomplish the same result.

With the foregoing in mind and with particular reference to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it will be clear that my control mechanism may be folded as in Fig. 8 to place the several members of the mechanism in a position substantially flush with the under surface of base 3|, or the arm 32 may be moved to the position shown in dotted lines whereby nut 59 is brought into engagement with portion 4|, whereupon further movement of arm 32 is opposed by spring 41 and the arm will normally rest in the dotted line position.

Further manual movement of arm 32 will result, as clearly noted, in corresponding movement of arm 46. Thus movement of arm 46 is controlled by manual movement of arm 32, which will be referred to shortly.

It will be noted that a link member 52 is movably connected with the outer end of arm 46 by means of an adjustable nut 53. This link member is adapted to connect the control mechanism just described with the control mechanism such as 54 of any ironing machine attached to the base 3|. It is thought apparent thatmanual movement of arm 32 will bring about corresponding movement of the mechanism 54 by the means described.

Operation of my device may be described as follows:

With parts positioned as shown in Fig. 4, when it is desired to use the ironing machine, the top 2 is moved backwardly and tilted as shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the panel I 4 is rotated downwardly to the horizontal position shown. The latter movement, by means already described,

places the shelf 23 and ironing machine in elevated'position in alignment with panel l4, whereupon the base 3|, with the ironing machine, is slid forwardly to rest upon panel H as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 5 and in perspective in Fig. 1. The top I2 may at this time be replaced as shown in Fig. 1 to form a convenient table.

It will be noted that with the parts in the latter position base 3| extends beyond panel |4 sufficiently to uncover my control mechanism, thus placing the arm 32 in position to be moved downwardly as noted in Figs. 7, 1 and 5.

With parts in the latter described position, the ironing machine is ready for practical use and pad 34 is available for operation by the knee of an operator, whereby the latter may control the mechanism of the ironer, while both hands are free for other activity.

When the ironing work is completed, the arm 32 is folded away as described, top I2 is tilted as before, base 3| is slid inwardly upon shelf 23, and

panel I4 is moved to closed position to place the ironer within the cabinet as described. Replacement of top I! completes the arrangement shown in Fig. 4.

What I claim is:

1. An ironing machine cabinet having side walls, a rear wall and a top, said top being mounted for forward andrearward movement; an ironing machine housed in an inoperative position within the cabinet; a support at the front of the cabinet in such position as to maintain the machine in operative position thereonwith the top of the machine above the plane of the top, and means for enabling the shifting of the machine between said inoperative and operative positions in a path intersecting the plane of the top, said top being shiftable rearwardly to accommodate movement of the machine in said path and said top being movable forwardly subsequent to the machine reaching operative position whereby it may serve as a support for fabrics ironed or to be ironed by said machine.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the top is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis transverse to the cabinet.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the top is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis transverse to the cabinet and'in which the top is slidable rearwardly and forwardly.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the support is pivotally mounted on a, horizontal axis on the cabinet and constitutes a front wall thereof when in vertical position and a support for the machine when in a horizontal postion.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for enabling the shifting of the machine constitutes a mechanism for raising the machine to a level with the support and a slide means to enable the sliding of the machine forwardly onto said support.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the means for enabling the shifting of the machine constitutes a parallel linkage connecting the machine and cabinet whereby the machine may attain the level of the support, and a slide means to enable the sliding of the machine forwardly onto said support.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the means for enabling the shifting of the machine constitutes a parallel linkage connecting the machine and cabinet, and a spring between the cabinet and linkage effective to counterbalance the weight of the machine whereby the machine may be raised to a level with the support, and a slide means to enable the sliding of the machine forwardly onto said support.

8. An ironing machine cabinet having side walls, a rear wall and a top, said top being pivotallymounted for tilting movement, an ironing machine housed in an inoperative position within the cabinet, a support at the front of the cabinet in such position as to maintain the machine in an operative position thereon with the top of the machine above the plane of the top, and means for enabling the shifting of the machine between said inoperative and operative positions in a path intersecting the plane of the top, said top being tiltable to accommodate such movement and being adapted thereafter to serve as a support for fabrics ironed or to be ironed by said machine.

HENRY W. ALTORFER. 

